How to Evaluate Workflow Tools: Practical Steps for Small Publishers

Presented by BISG’s Workflow Committee, this 30-minute micro-webinar is the second in our series focused on practical, real-world solutions for small publishers.

Evaluating workflow tools can feel daunting: the options are numerous, the trade-offs are often unclear, and resources are almost always limited. In this session, BEN MCCOY, Vice President of Operations and Chief of Staff of InterVarsity Press will share a structured, pragmatic approach to identifying, assessing, and selecting workflow tools that align with the unique needs of smaller organizations.

Attendees will leave with strategies to approach tool evaluation with clarity and confidence, making decisions that balance ambition with the realities of time, money, and staff capacity.

Who Should Attend: 

• Small and mid-sized publishers considering workflow improvements
• Production, editorial, and operations staff tasked with managing or implementing tools
• Independent presses seeking affordable, scalable solutions

Key Takeaways: 

• How to define and prioritize requirements for a workflow tool
• How to compare options based on cost, integration, and usability
• How to plan for onboarding and long-term adoption

Featured Speaker

BEN MCCOY has worked in various roles in the fields of engineering, production, and editorial since 1998. Ben's first role was as an Electrical Engineering Co-op at Ericsson from 1998 to 2001. Ben then worked at Northrop Grumman from 2001 to 2009, first as a Test Design Engineer and then as an Engineering Team Lead. From 2009 to 2011, they worked at InterVarsity Press in various roles, including Assistant Project Editor, Managing Editor, Senior Production Manager and Managing Editor, and Director of Production. In 2011, they founded and became the CEO of The Deal McCoy, LLC, an e-commerce start-up. Ben managed all aspects of the company, including overseeing software development and packing and shipping operations, and grew the business to carry over 3,400 unique products.

Ben McCoy received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University between 1996 and 2001. Ben then attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary from 2005 to 2008, where they earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Biblical Languages. In 2008, they completed a Master of Theology from Duke University in the field of Religion/Religious Studies.

Interested in this topic? Learn more about BISG’s Workflow Committee here, and participate in the dialogue in our industry for your own personal growth and to help address industry challenges.